The issue focused on many issues, including the rights of foreign workers in Europe and on compensation for internal damage suffered by workers from low-wage countries and other groups from who would be affected by these policies. The EU argued that the laws should be more general, including to be able to make decisions on social policy without reference to national rules and principles. The EU then turned to binding international treaties, particularly the EC Treaty which requires all member states to adopt some principles of social protection and the right to a standard of living